Disconnect switch mechanism



1960 A. J. GIRARDOT, JR 2,964,605

DISCONNEICT SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1957 INVENTOR. ALFRED J.

y GIRARDOT JR. #W ATTORNEYS Dec- 1 19 A. J. GIRARDOT, JR 2,964,606

DISCONNECT SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1957 INVNTOR.

' ALFRED J. GIRARDOT.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 A. J. GIRARDOT, JR

DISCONNECT SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 20, 1957 INVENTOR. ALFR E D J.

GIRARDOT JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent DISCONNECT SWITCH MECHANISM Alfred J. Girardot, Jr., 16244 Wyoming, Detroit, Mich., assignor of one-third to Robert M. Bacon, Farm ngt-an, and one-third to Ernest P. Raymond, Lathrup Township, Mich.

Filed Mar. 20, 1957, Ser. No. 647,334

3 Claims. (Cl. 200168) This invention relates generally to motor starters and, in particular, to a disconnect switch assembly by means of which a multicontact device may be quickly and easily disconnected from a multi-contact motor circuit and replaced by another device.

The usual motor starter used in a multi-phase circuit for a motor includes a contact bar operated by a solenofd which periodically wears out whereby it is necessary to remove the solenoid together with the contact closing bar and replace it with a similar device. Such a replacement operation is a time consuming operation and causes lost production time, especially on a motor used on a machine tool. Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a switch apparatus which is adapted for releasably connecting a multi-phase motor starter in a circuit whereby a disabled motor starter may be quickly and easily disconnected and replaced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a disconnect switch assembly for a multi-phase motor starter which includes a pair of cam operated switch means for releasaby connecting the motor starter in a motor circuit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a quickly releasable starter swItch apparatus which is simple and compact in construction, economical of manufacture and efficient in operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the details of the structure illustrated without departing from the invention, and, it is intended that the present disclosure shall be considered to be but the preferred embodiment.

Forming a part of this application are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a motor starter disconnect switch device made in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure i1- lustrated in Fig. 1, taken in the direction of the arrow marked 2;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken in the direction of the arrow marked 3;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section with parts removed, of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 44 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan v'ew of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken in the direction of the arrow marked 5;

Fig. 6 is an elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, with the operatfng lever superimposed thereon in dotted lines, showing the cam assembly in the locked position;

Fig. 7 is an elevational sectional view identical to that shown in Fig. 6, but showing the cam assembly in the unlocked position; and, I

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the structure illustrated ice in Fig. 1, showing the motor starter in an unlocked and detached position.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1, 2 and 8, an illustrative embodiment is shown which comprises a plate-like support member 10 on which is centrally disposed a conventional multi-phase motor starter, generally indicated by the numeral 11. The motor starter 11 includes a base plate 12 which is adapted to be releasably retained on the support member 10, by means of the retainer pins 13 which are fixedly mounted on the support member 10 in any suitable manner and which are adapted to be received in the apertures 14 in the motor starter base plate 12.

The motor starter 11 includes a contact holder member, generally indicated by the numeral 15, which has operatively mounted on one side thereof a first set of contacts as 16, 17 and 18 which are adapted to be connected to three wires of a multi-phase circuit, as more fully described hereinafter. The contact holder member 15 further'includes a second set of contacts, as 19, 2t and 21. The first and second set of contacts are adapted to be electrically connected by means of the contact bar 22, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The contact bar 22 is operatively connected to the arm 23 of the solenoid generally indicated by the numeral 24, which is adapted to be operated by the same means 25, external to the unit. The motor starter 11 has not been shown in detail since the invention does not reside in any particular motor starter and any conventional motor starter may be connected in a multi-phase circuit by means of the disconnect switch apparatus of the present invention.

As best seen in Figs. 3, 6 and 8, the switch apparatus of the present invention includes a disconnect switch comprising an L-shaped base, generally designated by the numeral 26, and which includes the horizontal portion 27 and the integral vertical portion 28. The base 26 is fixedly secured to the support member 10 by any suitable means, as by the screws 29. The horizontal base portion 27 is provided on the upper surface thereof with a plurality of longitudinal recesses as 30, 31, 32 and 33 which communicate with the vertically disposed recesses 34, 35, 36 and 37 which are formed in the inner face of the vertical base portion 28. As best seen in Figs. 6 and 8, the L-shaped stationary contact bars, as 38, 39,- 40 and 41, are fixedly mounted in the aforementioned recesses in the base 26. The L-shaped contact bars are secured in place by means of the screws 42. As shown in Fig. 1, the L-shaped contact bars 38, 39, 40 and 41 are connected to the lead wires of a multiphase motor circuit as 43, 44, 45 and 46 by means of the usual wire clamps 47, 48, 49 and 50, respectively.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 8, a pair of end plates 51 and 52 are fixedly mounted on the ends of the base 26 by means of the screws 53. A cam shaft 54 extends between the end plates 51 and 52 and is rotatably mounted in the end plate 51 by means of a suitable bearing member, as 55. The cam shaft 54 extends through the end plate 51 and is provided on the outer end thereof with the handle 56. This end of the shaft 54 which holds the handle 56 is bent at an angle to form a lever which is normal to the shaft 54 so that the handle 56 is disposed parallel to the end plate 51. The other end of the cam shaft 54 is suitably rotatably mounted in the end plate 52, as by means of the bearing 57. Fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 54, by any suitable means, are the spaced apart cams 58, 59, 60 and 61 which are disposed in alignment with the stationary contact bars 38, 39, 40 and 41, respectively.

As best seen in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 8, an elongated contact blade holder 62 is adapted to be seated on top of the vertical base portion 28 and is provided with a plurality aforedescribed first cam switching means.

tive to the first cam switching means.

of longitudinally spaced apart vertical holes therethrough, as 63, through which extend the contact blades 64, 65, 66, and 67. When the cam operating handle 56 is swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8, the blade holder 62 may be disposed on top of the base vertical portion 28 with the contact blades 6 65, 66 and 67 extended downwardly into abutting contact with the stationary contact bars 34, 35, 36 and 37, respectively. The handle 56 may then be rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 8, whereby the cams 53, 59, 69 and 6% will lock the aforementioned contact blades with their respective stationary contact bars, as illustrated in Pig. 6.

The cam assembly may be held in the contact locking position shown in Fig. 6 by means of the following described structure. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a

plunger lock is provided which comprises the enlarged nose portion 68 which is disposed inwardly of the end plate 52 and which is integral with a reduced diameter shaft 69 which is slidably mounted through the end plate 52 and which is provided on the outer end thereof with a fixed enlarged head 70. A spring 71 is mounted between the end plate 52 and the shaft head 79 and normally biases the plunger lock outwardly. Fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 54 in a position adjacent the end plate 52, is a plunger lock rotor 72 which is provided with a peripherally disposed recess 73. The lock rotor 72 is also provided with a peripherally disposed stop projection 74 which is disposed diametrically opposite to the recess 73. An abutment member 75 is fixedly mounted, on the inner side of the end plate 52 at a point diametrically opposite to the plunger 68. When the cam shaft 54 is in the contact locking position shown in Fig. 6, the projection 74 on the rotor 72 will be in an abutting position with the abutment '75, as shown in Fig. 4. The plunger lock 68 will also be engaged in the recess 73 and under these conditions, the cam shaft 54 will be firmly secured in a contact locking position whereby it cannot be accidentally rotated. In order to permit rotation of the cam shaft 54 to the unlocked position illus trated in Fig. 8, the operator would grasp the plunger head 70 and exert an inward force thereon so as to move the enlarged nose portion 68 of the plunger lock inwardly to the dotted position shown by the numeral 76 in Fig. 5. The lock rotor 72 would then be clear of the plunger lock member 68 and the shaft 54 could be rotated in a clock wise direction to the position shown in Fig. 8. The cam shaft 54 is additionally supported at the medial point thereof as by means of the bearing members 95.

The contact blades 64, 65, 66 and 67 are fixedly 'se cured to the blade holder 62 by means of the screws 77 which also function to retain the wire clamps 78, 79, 8t) and 81 in fixed engagement with the upper end of the L-shaped contact blades 64, 65, 66 and 67, respectively.

The wire clamps 78, 79, and 86 are interconnected with suitable wire clamps on the contacts 16, 17 and 18 of the first set of contacts on the contact holder member 15 by means of the leads 82, 83 and 84, respectively. The wire contact 81 for the fourth contact blade 67 which is in the ground portion of the illustrated four-wire circuit is con nected by means of the lead 85 to the connection conductor bar 86 which is in turn connected by means of the lead 87 to the wire clamp 78a on the contact blade 64:: of a second cam switching means. The second cam switching means is located at the other end of the support member 16 and is constructed identically the same as the However, the second cam switching means is reversed in position rela- The corresponding parts of the second cam switching means are designated by the same reference numerals as used in the first cam switching means and in addition the same letter a is added to the reference numerals for the second cam switching means. The function and operation of both cam switching means are the same.

The contact -19 of the second set of contacts on the con tact holder 15 is connected by means of the lead 88, connection conductor bar 89 and lead 90 to the wire clamp 81a on the contact blade 67a. The contact 20 of the second set of contacts on the contact holder 15 is con nected by means of the lead 91 to the wire clamp 8011 on the contact blade 66a. The contact 21 of the second set of contacts on the contact holder 15 is connected by means of the lead 92, connection conductor bar 93 and lead 94 to the wire clamp 79a on the contact blade 66a.

In the practice of the invention the motor starter 11 is connected as shown and described to the two contact blade holders 62 and 62a. The cam operating levers with the handles 56 and 56a thereon are moved into the verti cal position illustrated in Fig. 8 and the contact blades on each contact blade holder are moved into position against their respective stationary and mating contact bar in the disconnect switch bases 26 and 26a. The motor starter 11 is simultaneously mounted on the retainer pins 13. The contact blades on each of the holders 62 and 62a are then looked against their respective mating stationary contact bar by moving the operating levers to the horizontal positions shown in Fig. l. The motor starter 11 is then ready for instant use and operation. When it is desired or-necessary 'to remove the motor starter 11 for replacement purposes, the above described action is carried out in reverse. A new starter 11a, with contact blade holders '62 and 62a, already attached, is then inserted in place of the original starter.

Experience has shown that the instant disconnect switch apparatus is easy to use and is quick in operation and saves much valuable production time which would otherwise be lost by having to'manually connect each lead of a motor starter in a multi-phase circuit.

What I claim is:

1. A switch apparatus for detachably connecting a multi-phase device in a multi-phase circuit, comprising: a base member; a plurality of stationary contacts fixed on said base member and adapted to be operatively connected to said circuit; a plurality of removable contacts carried on a holder member and adapted to be operatively connected to said device; a'shaft rotatably mounted on said base member; a plurality of cams fixed on said shaft, each of said cams being adapted to detachably lock one of said removable contacts against one of said stationary contacts when said shaft is rotated to a firstposition and to unlock said contacts when said shaft is rotated to a second position; and means for releasably retaining said shaft in said first position for retaining the cams in a contact locking position.

2. A switch apparatus for detachably connecting a multi-contact device in a multi-contact circuit, comprising: a base member; a plurality of stationary contacts fixed on said base member and adapted to be operatively connected to said circuit; a plurality of removable contacts carried on a holder member and adapted to be operatively connected to said device; a shaft rotatably-mounted on said base member; a plurality of cams fixed on said shaft, each of said cams being adapted to detachably lock one of said removable contacts against one of said stationary contacts when said shaft is rotated to a first position and to unlock said contacts when said shaft is rotated to a second position; a lock rotor fixed on said shaft; a recess formed in the periphery of said rotor; a projection on said rotor; a fixed abutment on said base adapted to be engaged by said projection when said shaft is rotated to said first position; a plunger; and means for biasing said plunger into said recess when said shaft is rotated to said first position for locking said rotor and shaft in said first position. 7

3. A switch apparatus for detachably connecting a multi-contact device in a multi-phase circuit, comprising; a base member; a plurality of stationary contacts fixed on said base member and adapted to be operatively connected to said circuit; a plurality of removable contacts carried on a holder member and adapted to be operatively 5 7 connected to said device; a shaft rotatably mounted on References Cited in the file of this patent said base member; a plurality of cams fixed on said shaft; UNITED STATES PATENTS each of said cams being adapted to detachably lock one of said removable contacts against one of said stationary gg 3 8 333 contacts when said shaft is rotated to a first position and 5 172O189 Jackso'n' July 1929 to unlock said contacts when said shaft is rotated to a 2:010:710 Bakke 1935 second position; a lock rotor fixed on said shaft; a projec- 2,066,299 Mylius 29, 1936 tion on said rotor; 21 fixed abutment on said base adapted 2,069,518 Chittick et Feb 2, 7 to be engaged by said projection when said shaft is rotated 10 2,113,607 Johnson M 24, 1938 to said first position; and means for releasably locking 2,668,916 Dermond Feb. 9, 1954 said rotor in place when said shaft is rotated to said first 2,706,758 Thibaudat Apr. 19, 1955 position. 2,769,874 Coggeshall et a1. Nov. 6, 1956 

